How can we possibly endure this torture?! So far, five computers have been delivered to our room, and they are spread across every available power strip (with surge protector, of course!) that we have available. The rest are in the process of being set up, but everyone wants to know when they can get their hands on one!
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Evan's Google Sketch-up of the
Chromebook charging station |
I took the first one home last night, so I could have my in-house designer, Evan, help me plot out some type of storage system to hold all of the new devices. After talking it over with Dwayne (out computer tech), we determined that we needed something to house 30 devices, with space for power strips and cords to be discreetly tucked away for charging. I was very pleased with Evan's first Google Sketch-up, as it was very close to the design Dwayne and I discussed. With a few modifications, we could get this thing into production! Now the question is who will build them. One idea is to partner with the wood shop students at the Career Center. This would be a fantastic use of resources, I think! The other alternative is to hand it over to the District carpenters. Either way, we should see a really cool product that suits our needs perfectly.
I was excited to tell the students about all of these new developments, so after Greta taught today's Word of the Day (
tentatively), I decided to tentatively try hooking up one of the Chromebooks to the projector using an HDMI cord. A couple of issues cropped up:
- An HDMI cable alone will not allow the Chromebooks to be projected up onto the screen via the projector. Why is this, and what else do we need?
- Typing with the monitor down and the keyboard up (so the Chromebook screen can be captured with the document camera) is entertaining, but next to impossible. Not recommended.
- I am still in the way of the students trying to see the projection behind me. Is there a way to reconfigure my set-up so that I will not be in the way of the students?
I type on that very device right this moment. That photo above was snapped with the camera on this same machine. Exciting times in room 1! Dwayne will be here this afternoon to finish setting up the rest of the computers - these 20 giddy little people will have fun learning with me tomorrow!
